Newport High School - Live Wire Yearbook (Newport, ME)

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NEWPORT HIGH SCHOOL l30l she coughed a hollow, hacking cough, and drew around her an old black shawl that she wore. The expression on the face of the magistrate remained un- changed, but his eyelids dropped and he did not raise them when the woman continued: As I say, no man can defend me. I am too near that awful separation of soul and 'body. Years ago, I was a child of brightest promise. I lived with my parents in Kentucky. Wayward and light-hearted, I was admired by all the gay society known in the neighboring town. A man came and professed his love for me. I don't say this, Iudge, to excite your sympathy. I have many and many a time been drawn before courts, but I never before spoke of my past life. S-he coughed again and coughed a flow of blood on a handkerchief which she pressed to her lips. I speak of it now because I know that this is the last court on earth before which I will be arraigned. I was nineteen years old when I fell in love with the man. My father said he was bad, but I loved him. My father said that I could never come home again, after we had eloped and had been married. I had always been his pride and had loved him dearly, but he said that I must never again come to his home, my home, the home of my youth. Hfow I longed to see him! How I yearned to put my head on his breast. My husband became addicted to drink. He abused me. I w1'ote to my father, asking him to let me come home, but the answer that came was 'I don't know youl' My husband died-yes, cursed God and diedl Homeless and wretched, and with my little boy, I went out into the world. My child died, and I blowed down and wept over a pauper's grave. I wrote to my father again, but he an- swered, 'I don't know those who dis- obey my comm-andmentsf I turned away from that letter, hardened. I spurned my teachings. Now, I am heref, Several lawyers rushed forward. A crimson stream flowed from her lips. They leaned her lifeless head back against the chair. The old magistrate had not raised his eyes. 'fGreat Cod! said a lawyer, He is dead. The dead woman was his daughter. Hanna Haapanen '47 1 4 -u MONDAY MORNING BLUES I lay in my cozy, warm bed and dreaded to throw back the covers. A persistent voice broke into my thoughts for a third time, calling This is the last time I'm going to call you. What's the matter? Arenit you going to school this morning? I began throwing back the covers one by one and sat up. Why did they ever invent school, anyway. I got a glimpse of myself in the vanity mirror, and what a sight! I didn't know any- one's hair could stand up so straight in all directions, and my eyes were still heavy with sleep. With lagging motions I started to dress. I tried to remember where my blue sweater was. Good heavens, I had left it-yah, where? Finally, getting discouraged and giving it up as hopeless, I decided to eat my breakfast and dress later. Since I couldn't find my slippers, I paddled down stairs in my bare feet. I guess I must have been a little late for break- fast, for everyone had long since left

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THE LIVE WIRE l29l the most attractive jewel that glitters in the Coronet of mother earth. Paris became a thing of the past, as I journeyed through Italy, for my en- tire attention dwelled upon a White, circular tower in the distance. Some- thing seemed to tell me that it was the famed 'leaning Towerv of the cele- brated Italian city of Pisa, but much to my dismay it vanished from sight. I might have ventured to some other remote corner of the earth had I not been awakened by the strike of the vil- lage clock, reminding me to reopen the pages of a forgotten history book. I did this enthusiastically, for still fresh in my memory were the thoughts of that mo- mentous journey. But instead of finding the lesson to be full of Parisian adven- ture, I proceeded to read how Colum- bus discovered America. Rosalie jones '47 -u sf fu HIS LAST COURT Old judge Gibson, a justice of the Peace, was never known to smile. He came to Arkansas years ago, and, year after year, by the will of the voters, he held his place as magistrate. The law- yers who practiced in his court never joked with him, because everyone soon learned that the old man never engaged in levity. Every morning, no matter how bad the weather might be, the old man took his place behind the bar, which with his own hands he had made, and every evening, just at a certain time, he closed his books and went home. No one ever engaged him in private conver- sation, because he would talk to no one. No one ever went to his home, a little cottage among the trees in the city's outskirts, because he had never shown a disposition to make welcome the visits of those who even lived in the immedi- ate vicinity. His office was not given him through the influence of elec- tioneeringf' because he never asked any man for his vote. He was first elected because, having been once summoned in a case of arbitration he exhibited the executive side of such a legal mind that the people nominated and elected him. One day a woman charged with mis- demeanor was arraigned before him. The old man seems more unsteady than everf' remarked a lawyer as the magistrate took his seat. I don,t see how a man so old can stand the vexation of a court much- lon-gerf' I am not well todayf said the Judge, turning to the lawyers, and any cases that you may have you will please dis- patch them to the best and, may I add, to the quickest of your ability. Everyone saw that the old man was unusually fee-ble, and no one thought of a scheme to prolong a discussion, for all the lawyers had learned to rever- ence him. Is this the woman? asked the judge. K'Who is defending herlw GI have no defense, your honor, the women replied. In fact, I do not think I need any, for I am here to confess my guilt. No man can defend mef, and she looked at the magistrate with a curious gaze. I have been arrested on a charge of disturbing the peace, and I am will- ing to submit to any judgment. I am dying of consumption, Judge, and I know that any ruling made by the law can have but little effect on me,', and

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THE LIVE WIRE l31l the table. The food was cold and the coffee was all gone. After burning my fingers four times, I got my breakfast. I glanced at the clock and decided it must be Wrong, it couldn't be that late. I made a scramble back upstairs and decided to put on the very first thing I found. It happened to be a pair of my father's size 40 breeches. They were a little long in the legs, so I turned them up a bit. The too large waist was easily fixed with a large safety pin. I decided I must have something to go with the pants, so I donned one of his best shirts. Even if the outfit was a little baggy, it didn't matter. I also noticed I had one red plaid sock on and the other was a brilliant yellow. I 'combed my hair, which had a slight resemblance to my mother's dust mop, and gave my teeth a glance of the toothbrush. When I tried to find my books I was thoroughly convinced that some kind friend had disposed of them. I heard an urgent blast of a horn that must belong to the school bus. I grabbed my brother's wool shirt that was close by and made a dash for the door. I arrived at the bus breathless, sleepy and played out. I wondered Why they ever had school on Monday mornings. Eleanor Wing ,47 It -k :r A PERFECT LITTLE MAN The children made a snowman Out under the big oak tree, They used a carrot for his noseg Made eyes so he could see. I He's just as broad as he is tall, In fact, he's much too fat, But just one visit from Dr. Bain VVill soon take care of that. I think he's the most pleasant man I've seen in a good long while, For, even though he's made of snow, He has a big, warm smile. He's just a perfect gentleman. He never would talk back If you went out and knocked him down. Now find another man like that! He never speaks a11 unkind word, He never tells a lie. Heis never been known to frown or pout, And heis never been known to cry. He just stands there as big as day. We never hear him complain, Sometimes I'm afraid he wouldnit say If he really was in pain. But soon the children must say goodfbye To their little man so dear, For the sun will make a date with him And then heill disappear. I know we all will miss him then, Seems a shame he has to go, For we never could find another man Like this little man of snow. Marilyn Chase ,48 an 4: an LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP Perched ion a ledge ten stories up on the front of a hotel, Ken tried to mus- ter enough courage to leap to his death and end his miserable life. Ann, his young wife, was gone, his job lost, and the future held nothing but wretched- ness. He had done much thinking while in the balance of life and death on that afternoon. Ken and Ann had been mar-